Collapsible tube



Sept. 19, 1933. s. FIORE 1,927,605

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Filed April 20, 1952 2 'V I 7 7 Inventor f sjivesl er Zp'are W E 1. wwfizvt.

flllorney Patented Sept. 19, 1933 UNHTED STATES PATENT JOFFICE ooLLA1 s1BLE TUBE Sylvester Fiore, Coatesville, Pa. Application April 20,1932. se iai .No. 606,457, "s oi ims. (01.22140 1 This invention relates to containers for viscous Substances such as toothpaste, dentifrices, toilet substances, etc., and more particularly to collapsible tubes employed for holding such material.

In accordance with the present invention a col- 7 lapsible tube having an improved closure for the neck thereof is provided, the invention comprehending the provision of such .a'closure which iects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a collapsible tube having the features of the present invention incorporated therein.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through he tube on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the closure element or plunger and the rod connected therewith. f

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a guide bar.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view on an enlarged scale illustrating the manner of sealing the guide openings provided for the plunger rod, the rod being shown at its innermost position.

Referring more in detail to the drawing it will be seen that 5 designatesgenerally a collapsible tube which is substantially of conventional construction. The outlet neck of the tube is designated generally by the reference character 5a while the bottom or rear end of the tube is designated generally by the reference character 52).

My improved closure for the tube comprises a plunger 6 arranged to reciprocate in the neck 5a and opening inwardly of the tube to permit a discharge of the contents of the tube. The plunger 6 at its inner end is provided with a substantially conical head or shoulder 6a adapted to seat against the inner end of the neck 5a when 7 the plunger 6 is in fully closed position as shown in Figure 2. r

A guide bar '7 is provided, the same consisting of a flat metal strip, in the present instance; and the bar '7 is arranged within the tube 5 being anchored at one end at the bottom of the tube.

' as suggested in Figure -2. Adjacent its free end the guide bar 7 is longitudinally twisted and then directed laterally as at 7a. An actuating or control rod 8 is shiftable longitudinally of the tube 5, and one end of the rod is slidable through an opening in the bottom side 51) of the tube and I in fully closed position assuming at its outer end is suitably formed as at 8d to facilitate grasping the outer end of the ro'd to reciprocate it. ,At its inner or upper end the rod 8 is slidable throughan aperture provided, in the laterally extending end 7a of the guide bar, and

is also suitably fixed to the inner end 'of the plunger 6. A spring 9 is disposed about the inner or upper end of the rod 8 and is interposed between the laterally extended end 7a of the guide bar and the inner or headed end of the plunger 6, spring 9 normally urging the plunger 6 out-p wardly to open position.

When it is desired to expel or discharge sor'ne I neck 5a. With the plunger 6 inits inward open positionpressure may be applied to the, side walls or the tube 5 for expelling a-portion of the contents'of the tube in the usual manner. the tube, all that is necessary, is to releasethe end 8a of the rod whereby the latter together with the plunger will move under action 'ofspring 9, the plunger 6 being moved outwardly and axially of the neck'5a until the head 6a engages the inner end of the neck, the plunger 6 being then .the' position shown in'Figure 2. l Adjacent the end 8a the rod 8 is, reduced as To close at 81) for accommodation within the opening'in the bottom 5?) of the tube, and from a study of Figures 2 and 5 it will be apparent that when the rod 8 is in its innermost position the lower shoulder' 10 provided at the lower end-of the reduced portion 8b serves to close and seal the opening in the bottom 5b, while when the rod 8 is pulled. v outwardly against the action of spring 9 the up-' i per shoulder 10b will engage the bottom 51) adjacent the opening therein for sealing. said opening and thus'preventing the material being forced ,through said openingjwhen pressure is applied to the tube for discharging a portion of the contents thereof through the neck 5a.

Even though I have herein' shown and described the preferred embodim'ent of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible to changesfully comprehended by the spirit of. the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I 7 claim as new is:

I 1. In combination,atube having an outlet neck, an inwardly opening closure element for said neck,. aj fixed guide bar'in the tube extending longitudinallyrthereof and having an apertured closure element for normally urging the latter outwardly to a closed position. g

2. A closure for a collapsible tube comprising a guide bar within the tube anchored at one end tion slidable through an opening in the bottom of the tube and projecting, exteriorly of the tube, and a relatively opposite end slidable through the laterally eitended. end'of the guide bar, an inwardly openingclosure plunger on the last'namedthe rod freelymovable within the outlet end of soy neck and having an enlarged head at its inner end seating on the inner end of. said outlet neck, and resilient .means disposed between said laterally extended end of said bar and said plunger for normally urging the latter outwardly to closed position.

3. In combination, a .tube having an outlet neck, and also having a bottom provided with an aperture, a'plunger rod slidably arranged in saidtube and having an end portion extended thru and disposed exteriorly of the tube,,' and being also provided adjacent said end portion with V a reduced part slidable through the opening in the bottom of said tube and presenting innerand to the bottom of the tube, and at a relatively opouter shoulders for sealing said opening when said rod has been moved in either direction relative to said tube, an inwardly opening closure" ,plungeron the inner end of said rod mounted V to reciprocate within said neck and having an enlarged head at its inner end resting on the inner end of said outlet neck; andresilientme-ans for normally urging saidclosur'e plunger outwardly to closed position.

SYLVESTER FI'ORE 

